History of Lee Gallery

1958
Lee Hall was erected by Lockwood Greene Engineers Inc. for the School of Architecture with Dean Harlan E. McClure as consulting architect. Lee Gallery was included in the original planning concept. Because the gallery was located in Lee Hall, it became known as the Lee Gallery. Harlan McClure designed the addition and the new jury space had a two-fold mission: to function as a jury room and a place to present exhibitions of visual art.

1960
The first faculty assigned to oversee the space was Robert Hunter, the first faculty member in the newly formed Visual Arts program.

1968
Mike Holden was hired to oversee the management and organization of the space and was the first person to hold the title of Director of the Lee Gallery. During his tenure, Mike was responsible for the beginning of a permanent collection of artworks purchased from artists within the state through the Clemson Architectural Foundation.

1972
Ron Porter took over the responsibility of the Lee Gallery as the director for 1 year and presented a variety of exhibitions.

1972
Tom Dimond was the director of the lee gallery starting in 1973 and stepped down in June 1988. Tom Dimond was hired as the Coordinator of Education of Media Exhibits and was the first program facilitator to hold a Masters Degree in Fine Arts. In 1981 Tom established the Clemson National Print and Drawing Exhibition , and was instrumental in finding funding opportunities to continue the purchase of work for the Clemson Advancement Foundation then known as the Clemson Architectural Foundation. Today, the Clemson National Print and Drawing Exhibition is a national competition that continues to hold national prominence and a high level of respect from the field. During his time major improvements were made to the exhibition space, transforming it from a jury room into a contemporary gallery space. In 1976 he was instrumental in developing the South Carolina Arts Commission Invitational that was recognized in the state as a premier competition with its use of three national recognized jurors for the competition. The South Carolina Arts Commission Invitational and Lee gained tremendous recognition throughout the state because of the success of this exhibition. Mr. Dimond led the gallery into national recognition through the formation of traveling exhibitions which were exhibited in various venues across the nation. In 1988 Mr. Dimond stepped down as Director of the Gallery to teach full time in the department of art as a faculty member in the painting program.

1988
Jon Meyer came in as the new director. The two years under the direction of Mr. Meyer saw continued prominence within the state for the gallery with the recognition of a Clemson University gallery system with venues in Charleston, Columbia and Genoa, Italy. Jon was responsible for a spectacular air -art show during the half-time of a Clemson football game in Death Valley; it was the first of its kind in the history of the school and was witnessed by 80,000 fans.

1990
Deborah Brooks served as Interim Director of the Lee Gallery

1991
David Houston was hired as the next director and came to the Clemson from the South Carolina Arts commission where he was the Visual Arts Coordinator. David was instrumental in curating exhibitions that highlighted internationally recognized artists as well as significant artists within the state and region. During his time with Clemson University David developed many exhibitions that distinguished Clemson University as having one of the strongest college art galleries in the state. He was instrumental in the design and implementation of the Site Specific Nature Based Sculpture Program at the South Carolina Botanical Gardens and the Art Partnership Program. These programs continue to develop and benefit from David's creativity and commitment in developing a strong public art presence at the university.

2001
Denise Woodward-Detrich became the Director of Lee Gallery. Denise served as the assistant to David Houston for a brief time and is coming into her own as the new Gallery director. In her short time here she has created a strong renewed interest in the Friends of the Gallery Program and has succeeded in raising substantial funding for the Gallery programs. In the past year she has organized the first Clemson National Small Sculpture Competition and a National Women's Art Exhibition. Continuing in the tradition of our previous gallery directors she is raising the status of Lee Gallery to new levels in the State and region and toward a national prominence for the 21 st century.